TRENTON — A federal judge has declined to overturn Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's refusal to certify former track star Carl Lewis as a state Senate candidate — for now.

U.S. District Court Judge Noel Hillman said Guadagno's order does appear contrary to a federal appeals court order to put Lewis on the ballot while his appeal of a decision that he does not meet the state's four-year residency requirement winds its way through federal court. But he said there is no pressing need to overrule Guadagno with several weeks to go before ballot deadlines.

Hillman also rejected Lewis' request for discovery, which would have included deposing Guadagno.

Hillman told Lewis' attorney Bill Tambussi to come back if he has not made a decision close to the Sept. 8 deadline for county clerks to finalize their ballot information.

"If you're putting me on notice that you may have to come running in on short notice and you need me to hear it, the door is open," said Hillman.

Video: Carl Lewis campaigns for state senate, despite legal battleOlympian Carl Lewis is hitting the streets in New Jersey's 8th district, introducing himself to residents in the hope they will turn out in November and send him to the state senate. Meanwhile, a federal judge could decide to kick Lewis off the ballot over residency requirements. (Video by Megan DeMarco/The Star-Ledger)

Hillman refused to overturn Guadagno's initial decision to kick Lewis off the ballot in May, but an appeals court kicked the case back to Hillman and asked him to rule on a different aspect of it.